Mold for machines for applying thermoplastic box toes to shoe uppers

ABSTRACT

A mold for use on machines for applying thermoplastic box toes to shoe uppers has a first part horizontally reciprocable to move the mold from a thermoplastic material supply station to a box toe applying station and conversely, and a second part mounted on the first part and carrying on the lower side thereof a male element provided with a downwardly open recess to receive the box toe and with a chamber above said recess to receive the cooling liquid. The first part consists in a plate provided beneath the male element of the second part with a window larger in size than the male element. The latter is clamped to the second part and is removable from the bottom through the window in the first part. The female consists in a plate provided with an opening therein and is adapted to be removed horizontally from the first part to clear the window.

United States Patent i1 1 Capuano 1 Mar. 5, 1974 [54] MOLD FOR MACHlNESFOR APPLYING 3,481,003 12/1969 Taylor et al. 425/119 THERMOPLASTIC BOXTOES T SHOE UPPERS jrimary Ejaminerl.rl How/:rd Fling, h

tto t, mster 0t tem {75] Inventor: Antonio Capuano, Vigevano, ltaly meygen 0r Um S [73] Assignee: ISM Corporation, Wobum, Mass. 1 1 ABSTRAQT Amold for use on machines for applying thermoplas- [22] Ffled' 1971 ticbox toes to shoe uppers has a first part horizontally [21] Appl. No.:207,378 reciprocable to move the mold from a thermoplastic materialsupply station to a box toe applying station and conversely, and asecond part mounted on the [52] Cl 425/117 17 first part and carrying onthe lower side thereof a male Int Cl 8219c 27/18 element provided with adownwardly open recess to 156/245 receive the box toe and with a chamberabove said re- 156/498 6 cess to receive the cooling liquid. The firstpart consists in a plate provided beneath the male element of the secondpart with a window larger in size than the [56] References Claed maleelement. The latter is clamped to the second part UNITED STATES PATENTSand is removable from the bottom through the window 3,199,149 8/1965Croyle 425/119 in the first part The female consists in a plate pro-3'443279 5/1969 Mcnvm 425/119 vided with an opening therein and isadapted to be reet i moved horizontally from the first part to clear thewin- 1S er 3,403,423 /1968 McMorrow et al 425/119 3,412,433 1 1/1968Ralphs et a1. 425/119 X 10 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures $1 5- 27 3O /8 29""i; m is i 6/ PATENTED 5 I974 SHEET 1 0F 2 MOLD FOR MACHINES FORAPPLYING THERMOPLASTIC BOX TOES T SHOE UPPERS This invention relates toimprovements in molding apparatus such as the type shown in US. Pat. No.3,442,743 which relates to forming and applying a layer of thermoplasticmaterial, in a predetermined shape, to a workpiece such as a shoe upperto form a box toe or the like.

The apparatus described in the above patent specification includes asupply source for molten thermoplastic material, a mold member having amold recess formed in its face to enable the molten thermoplastic tofill the recess so that when filled, asurface of the moltenthermoplastic in the recess is exposed, means for cooling the mold tosolidify that portion of the thermoplastic which is in contact with therecess while leaving the exposed surface of the thermoplastic tacky,means for moving the mold horizontally toward a work- .ing station toenable subsequent vertical movement between the mold and the workpieceto press the partially cooled thermoplastic onto the workpiece and meansfor thereafter returning the mold to its original position in readinessto receive another charge of molten thermoplastic material.

The present invention relates to an improved structure for supportingthe moldin the machine and which enables the mold to be replaced moreeasily, with greater convenience and with minimal down-time of themachine. The invention is particularly useful in environments wherefrequent mold changes are likely, as when a run of box toes are to bemade with the box toes being of a number of different shapes.

The various features and advantages of the invention will be apparentfrom the following description, taken together with the appendeddrawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view, somewhat diagrammatic, of themold assembly which is of a horizontally slidable carriage; and

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view, somewhat diagrammaticand brokenaway, of the mold assembly which is carried by the assembly shown inFIG. 1 and which is mounted to that assembly for vertical movement.

As employed herein, the term machine will refer to the type of machinedefined in US. Pat. No. 3,442,743. The drawings herein show the modifiedmold supporting arrangement which is movable in the machine between thethermoplastic loading station and the work supporting station referredto above. When the parts shown in the drawing are fully assembled, theyare movable horizontally and in a forwardrearward direction betweentheaforesaid stations. The parts of the machine shown in the Figures areseen somewhat from the side and it will be appreciated that in operationthe assembly moves from right to left (forwardly) and from left to right(rearwardly). In the following description, forwardly" and rearwardlywill designate such directions.

The invention includes a carriage plate 1 which is slidably mounted tothe frame of the machine for horizontal movement in a forward-rearwarddirection. The carriage plate 1 carries with it the other elements ofthe invention shown in the drawings for movement in unison therewithbetween the rearward loading station and the forward workpiece operatingstation. The forward region of the carriage plate 1 includes an enlargedrectangular opening 2. Detachably mounted to the carriage plate 2 is awiping plate 113 having a mold aperture 14 formed therein. The moldaperture 14 is of a shape and size which is adapted to receive the moldmember 26) (FIG. 2). The wiping plate '13 is mounted to and below thecarriage plate 1 so that its mold aperture 14 is in alignment with theopening 2 formed in the carriage plate. The wiping plate I13 isdetachably mounted to the front end of the carriage plate 1 by means ofa pair of brackets 15 secured or integral with the forward end of thewiping plate which are adapted to engage the forward end of the carriageplate. The wiping plate 13 includes'an aperture 33 which, when thewiping plate 13 is properly positioned, is aligned with a slot 19 formedin the forward end of the carriage plate 1. A pin 18, shown in FIG. 2,is employed in a manner described more fully below, to extend throughthe align slot 19 and aperture 33 to alock the wiping plate 13 firmly tothe carriage plate.

The parts of the device shown in FIG. 2 are mounted to and carried bythe carriage plate 1 for movement both in unison therewith in aforward-rearward direction and also for vertical movement with respectto the plate 1 when the carriage plate 1 is in its forward position. Asshown in FIG. 2 the vertically movable assem' bly includes an upperplate assembly indicated generally by the arrow 4 which includes anupper plate 4' from which the mold member 20 depends. The upper plateassembly 4 is supported on the carriage plate I for vertical movement bymeans of three posts 3 secured to the plate 1 and extending upwardlytherefrom as shown in FIG. 1. The upper plate 4' has three holes 4"(only two of the holes 4" can be seen in FIG. 2) similarly arranged toreceive the posts 3. The upper plate 4' is retained on posts by means ofnut and washer arrangements 11 (FIG. 1) which are threaded on to theupper ends of the two more forward posts 3 after the upper plate 4' hasbeen placed and the threaded knob 12 which screws onto the upper end ofthe more rearward post 3. The posts 3 serve to retain the upper plate 4'in the proper alignment with the enlarged opening 2 in the carriageplate l. and also serve to guide the upper plate assembly 4 in itsvertical movement. The upper plate 4 is normally biased in its uppermost position by four compression springs 5 which are retained at theirlower ends in sockets formed in the upper service of the carriage plateand which bear upwardly against the un derside of the upper plate 4'.

The mold member 20 is supported from the upper plate 4 for movement inunison therewith but in a manner which enables the mold member 20 to beeasily detached in a manner described more fully below. The mold member20 includes a mold plate 21 having a recess (not shown) formed at itsunderside which receives the molten thermoplastic cement when the deviceis at its rearward loading station. The upper surface of the mold plate211 also is recessed and is covered by the cover'22 to define anenclosed coolant chamber 32. For the purposes and mode of operation setforth in the aforementioned US. Pat. No. 3,442,743, a fluid coolant maybe circulated through the coolant chamber by means of inlet and outletnipples 24 which are secured to the cover 22. and which providecommunicae tion to and from the coolant chamber 32. In the preferredembodiment the nipples 24 are provided with resilient seals, such asthose suggested at 25 which cooperate with the mating portions of theupper plate 4' as described below. The mold member is detachablyconnectable to the upper plate assembly 4 by means of an internallythreaded sleeve 23 which is secured to the cover 22. The sleeve 23 andnipples 24 also function to locate properly the mold member with respectto the upper plate assembly 4.

The underside of the upper plate 4' includes a downwardly projectingboss 6 having a central hole formed therethrough which receives thesleeve 23. The boss 6 also includes a pair of downwardly openingconduits 31 located on opposite sides of the central hole 26 which areadapted to receive the inlet and outlet nipples 24. The conduits 31extend through the upper plate 4' and rearwardly where they areconnected to the inlet and outlet coolant conduits 7 and 8 respectively.The mold member 20 is securely retained to the underside of the boss 6by means of a spindle 28 having a lower threaded end 29 which extendsdownwardly into the central hole 26. The threaded end 29 of the spindle28 is adapted to be threaded into the sleeve 23 to draw the mold member20, nipples 24 and seals snuggly up against the bottom of the boss 6.For this purpose, the upper end of the spindle 28 includes a hand wheel9. The hand wheel is rotatably supported by a fork 10 mounted to the topside of the upper plate 4. An abuttment disc may be provided between thehand wheel 9 and the upper surface of the upper plate 4.

When the upper plate assembly 4, mold member 20, wiping plate 13 andcarriage plate 1 are assembled, the upper plate 4' is biased by thesprings 5 in its upper most position as determined by engagement withthe nuts and washers 11 and knob 12. The lower surface of the mold plate21 which includes the mold recess (not shown) lies flush with theunderside of the wiping plate 13, the peripheral configuration of themold plate 21 being complimentary to and fitting closely within the moldaperture 14 in the wiping plate 13. The wiping plate 13 and carriageplate 1 are retained together by the lower end of a pin 18 which passesdownwardly through the aligned slot 19 and aperture 33. The upper end ofthe pin 18 is slidably received within a hole 27 formed in the upperplate 4 with the pin resting on the carriage plate 1 so that the upperplate may move freely vertically without interference from the pin yetretain the pin 18in its place.

In operation, the assembly in its foregoing configuration is movedhorizontally rearwardly to the thermoplastic loading station at whichthe mold recess (not shown) in the underside of the mold plate 21 isfilled with thermoplastic material. The hot thermoplastic material whichfills the underside of the mold plate 21 begins to cool to a more solidstate at the region which contacts the cooled wall 32, with thedownwardly exposed portion of the thermoplastic material remaining hotand tacky. The carriage plate 1 and all of the above elements supportedthereby then is moved forwardly and horizontally to a position over thestation at which the workpiece is supported. During this movement, theunderside of the mold plate 211 and wiping plate 13 is wiped in themanner described in the aforementioned patent. After the full assemblyhas been moved forwardly over the work supporting station, the upperplate assembly 4 is urged vertically downwardly to urge thethermoplastic filled recess at the bottom face of the mold plate 21against the workpiece. The upper surface of the thermoplastic waferwhich has been cooled by the coolant releases the wafer easily and thelower exposed surface of the thermoplastic wafer which is still tackyadheres to the workpiece. When the upper plate assembly 4 and moldmember 20 are thereafter raised the thermoplastic wafer remains bondedto the workpiece and the carriage plate may then be returned to itsrearward position to be reloaded with thermoplastic material.

The invention permits mold members to be easily and rapidly changedwhich is of particular importance such as, for example, in the shoeindustry where it frequently is desirable to apply thermoplastic box toewafers to various sizes, shapes and styles of .shoe uppers which requiresimilarly var-ying mold shapes. In order to set up the machine toaccommodate a different type of mold arrangement, the operator need onlymove the carriage plate to its forward position and then unscrew thehand wheel 9 and lift the pin 18. This frees both the mold member 20 andthe wiping plate 13. The wiping plate 13 may include a handle 16 tofacilitate its removal. The reverse procedure then is followed inreplacement of the mold member 20 and wiping plate 13 having themodified mold shape, etc. i

From the foregoing description of the invention, its advantages shouldbe apparent/With the foregoing arrangement it is unnecessary to replacethe complete mold assembly as had been necessary previously. Only themold member 20 and wiping plate 13 need be changed. Moreover, this maybe done easily and simply which minimizes down-time. In addition,substantial financial savings can be achieved.

FIG. 1 also suggests in phantom a modification of the invention by whichthe carriage plate 1 can be made in two sections l/a and l/b which aredetachably connected to each other by screws (not shown) or the like.The more forward section 1/11 of the carriage plate 1 could, if desired,be detached together with the entire structure described above withoutdisassembling that structure in anyway.

It should be understood, however, that the foregoing description of theinvention is intended merely to be illustrative thereof and that othermodifications and changes may occur to those skilled in the art withoutdeparting from its spirit.

I claim 1. In a machine for applying a preformed thermoplastic wafer toa workpiece, the improvement comprising:

carriage means mounted in said machine for horizontally reciprocablemovement between a thermoplastic supply station and an applying station;

a mold member carried by the carriage and having a downwardly facingsurface defining a recess in order to receive the molten thermoplasticmaterial;

said mold member further including an enclosed coolant chamber;

said mold member being of a predetermined peripheral shape;

means mounting said mold member for vertical movement relative to saidcarriage means to enable said mold member to be urged downwardly towardsaid workpiece whensaid carriage is at said applying station;

wiping plate means mounted to said carriage and having a mold apertureformed therethrough of substantially the same shape as that of theperiphery of said mold member, said aperture being dimensioned toreceive said mold member and to enable vertical motion of said moldmember through said mold aperture;

said mold member being removably supported by said carriage in a mannerwhich, when released, enables said mold member to be withdrawnvertically downwardly through said mold aperture; and

means mounting the wiping plate means to said carriage means for removalafter said mold member has been withdrawn.

2. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the mold member issupported by said carriage means by means comprising:

an upper plate mounted to said carriage means for vertical movement;

said carriage means having an enlarged opening formed therein below saidupper plate;

said mold member being mounted to the underside of said upper plate andin registry with the enlarged opening in the carriage means to enablesaid mold member to pass vertically through said enlarged opening whensaid upper plate is moved vertically;

and

the wiping plate meansbeing mounted to and below said carriage means andhaving its mold aperture in registry with the mold member and with theenlarged opening of said carriage means.

3. An apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said carriage meanscomprises a carriage'plate and wherein the wiping plate means isremovably mounted to the carriage plate by means comprising:

bracket means secured to the wiping plate means and constructed andarranged to engage the edge of the carriage, the wiping plate means andthe carriage plate having holes formed therethrough and adapted to be inalignment when the wiping plate means is properly registered with thecarriage plate;

a locking pin extending downwardly through the aligned holes in saidwiping plate means and said carriage plate;

the locking pin extending upwardly from said carriage plate through areceptive opening in the upper plate;

the pin being vertically removable from said aligned holes; and

the hole in the upper plate which is receptive to said locking pin beingarranged to permit the vertical movement of said upper plate freely withrespect to the locking pin. 1

4. An apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein the means for mounting themold member to the upper plate comprises:

a spindle rotatably supported by and extending through said upper plate;

the spindle having a lower end extending below the upper plate;

the mold member having an internally threaded sleeve secured thereto andextending upwardly therefrom,

the threaded sleeve being adapted to threadable receive the lower end ofthe spindle; and

the upper end of the spindle being secured to a rotatable hand wheel.

5. An apparatus as defined in claim 2 further comprising:

the underside of the upper plate including a downwardly extending bosswhich surrounds the lower threaded end of the spindle; the lowerthreaded end of the spindle being of a diameter substantially smallerthan that of the hole extending through the boss; the hole extendingthrough the boss being dimensioned to receive the internally threadedupwardly extending sleeve; and the length of the boss being sufficientto enable th mold member to be drawn upwardly and firmly against thebottom of the boss. 6. An apparatus as defined in claim 4 furthercomprising:

the mold member including a pair of nipples located on either side ofthe sleeve, the nipples being in communication with the coolant chamberin the mold member; the upper plate including a pair of receptive holesin the boss to receive the nipples, the holes in the boss beingconnectable to a source of fluid coolant to enable the fluid coolant tobe circulated to and through the coolant chamber in the mold member;

and I sealing means associated with each of the nipples. 7. An apparatusas defined in claim 3 wherein the means for mounting the mold member tothe upper plate comprises:

a spindle rotatably supported by and extending through said upper plate;the spindle having a lower end extending below the upper plate; the moldmember having an internally threaded sleeve secured thereto andextending upwardly therefrom; the threaded sleeve being adapted tothreadable receive the lower end of the spindle; and the upper end ofthe spindle being secured to a rotatable hand wheel. 8. An apparatus asdefined in claim 7 further comprising:

the underside of the upper plate including a downwardly extending bosswhich surrounds the lower threaded end of the spindle;

the lower threaded end of the spindle being of a diametersubstantially'smaller than that of the hole extending through the boss;

the hole extending through the boss being dimensioned to receive theinternally threaded upwardly extending sleeve; and

the length of the boss being sufficient to enable the mold member to bedrawn upwardly and firmly against the bottom of the boss.

9. An apparatus as defined in claim 7 further comprising:

the mold member including a pair of nipples located on either side ofthe sleeve, the nipples being in communication with the coolant chamberin the mold member;

the upper plate including a pair of receptive holes in the boss toreceive the nipples, the holes in the boss being connectable to a sourceof fluid coolant to enable the fluid coolant to be circulated to andthrough the coolant chamber in the mold member; and

sealing means associated with each of the nipples.

the boss to receive the nipples, the holes in the boss being connectableto'a source of fluid coolant to enable the fluid coolant to becirculated to and through the coolant chamber in the mold member; and

sealing means associated with each of the nipples. k

1. In a machine for applying a preformed thermoplastic wafer to aworkpiece, the improvement comprising: carriage means mounted in saidmachine for horizontally reciprocable movement between a thermoplasticsupply station and an applying station; a mold member carried by thecarriage and having a downwardly facing surface defining a recess inorder to receive the molten thermoplastic material; said mold memberfurther including an enclosed coolant chamber; said mold member being ofa predetermined peripheral shape; means mounting said mold member forvertical movement relative to said carriage means to enable said moldmember to be urged downwardly toward said workpiece when said carriageis at said applying station; wiping plate means mounted to said carriageand having a mold aperture formed therethrough of substantially the sameshape as that of the periphery of said mold member, said aperture beingdimensioned to receive said mold member and to enable vertical motion ofsaid mold member through said mold aperture; said mold member beingremovably supported by said carriage in a manner which, when released,enables said mold member to be withdrawn vertically downwardly throughsaid mold aperture; and means mounting the wiping plate means to saidcarriage means for removal after said mold member has been withdrawn. 2.An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the mold member is supportedby said carriage means by means comprising: an upper plate mounted tosaid carriage means for vertical movement; said carriage means having anenlarged opening formed therein below said upper plate; said mold memberbeing mounted to the underside of said upper plate and in registry withthe enlarged opening in the carriage means to enable said mold member topass vertIcally through said enlarged opening when said upper plate ismoved vertically; and the wiping plate means being mounted to and belowsaid carriage means and having its mold aperture in registry with themold member and with the enlarged opening of said carriage means.
 3. Anapparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said carriage means comprises acarriage plate and wherein the wiping plate means is removably mountedto the carriage plate by means comprising: bracket means secured to thewiping plate means and constructed and arranged to engage the edge ofthe carriage, the wiping plate means and the carriage plate having holesformed therethrough and adapted to be in alignment when the wiping platemeans is properly registered with the carriage plate; a locking pinextending downwardly through the aligned holes in said wiping platemeans and said carriage plate; the locking pin extending upwardly fromsaid carriage plate through a receptive opening in the upper plate; thepin being vertically removable from said aligned holes; and the hole inthe upper plate which is receptive to said locking pin being arranged topermit the vertical movement of said upper plate freely with respect tothe locking pin.
 4. An apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein the meansfor mounting the mold member to the upper plate comprises: a spindlerotatably supported by and extending through said upper plate; thespindle having a lower end extending below the upper plate; the moldmember having an internally threaded sleeve secured thereto andextending upwardly therefrom, the threaded sleeve being adapted tothreadable receive the lower end of the spindle; and the upper end ofthe spindle being secured to a rotatable hand wheel.
 5. An apparatus asdefined in claim 2 further comprising: the underside of the upper plateincluding a downwardly extending boss which surrounds the lower threadedend of the spindle; the lower threaded end of the spindle being of adiameter substantially smaller than that of the hole extending throughthe boss; the hole extending through the boss being dimensioned toreceive the internally threaded upwardly extending sleeve; and thelength of the boss being sufficient to enable the mold member to bedrawn upwardly and firmly against the bottom of the boss.
 6. Anapparatus as defined in claim 4 further comprising: the mold memberincluding a pair of nipples located on either side of the sleeve, thenipples being in communication with the coolant chamber in the moldmember; the upper plate including a pair of receptive holes in the bossto receive the nipples, the holes in the boss being connectable to asource of fluid coolant to enable the fluid coolant to be circulated toand through the coolant chamber in the mold member; and sealing meansassociated with each of the nipples.
 7. An apparatus as defined in claim3 wherein the means for mounting the mold member to the upper platecomprises: a spindle rotatably supported by and extending through saidupper plate; the spindle having a lower end extending below the upperplate; the mold member having an internally threaded sleeve securedthereto and extending upwardly therefrom; the threaded sleeve beingadapted to threadable receive the lower end of the spindle; and theupper end of the spindle being secured to a rotatable hand wheel.
 8. Anapparatus as defined in claim 7 further comprising: the underside of theupper plate including a downwardly extending boss which surrounds thelower threaded end of the spindle; the lower threaded end of the spindlebeing of a diameter substantially smaller than that of the holeextending through the boss; the hole extending through the boss beingdimensioned to receive the internally threaded upwardly extendingsleeve; and the length of the boss being sufficient to enable the moldmember to be drawn upwardly and firmly against the bottom of the boss.9. An apparatus as defined in claim 7 further comprising: the moldmember including a pair of nipples located on either side of the sleeve,the nipples being in communication with the coolant chamber in the moldmember; the upper plate including a pair of receptive holes in the bossto receive the nipples, the holes in the boss being connectable to asource of fluid coolant to enable the fluid coolant to be circulated toand through the coolant chamber in the mold member; and sealing meansassociated with each of the nipples.
 10. An apparatus as defined inclaim 8 further comprising: the mold member including a pair of nippleslocated on either side of the sleeve, the nipples being in communicationwith the coolant chamber in the mold member; the upper plate including apair of receptive holes in the boss to receive the nipples, the holes inthe boss being connectable to a source of fluid coolant to enable thefluid coolant to be circulated to and through the coolant chamber in themold member; and sealing means associated with each of the nipples.